Female asylum seekers in the UK report sexual violence by British men
Women seeking asylum in the United Kingdom have reported cases of rape, sexual harassment and exploitation by British men. Some of them did not report the incidents to the police because they feared this could negatively affect the consideration of their asylum applications, The Guardian reports.
Women's testimonies
One woman, who lived for two years in a hotel for asylum seekers after fleeing religious persecution and domestic violence, reported regular harassment by an employee of the facility. According to her, he touched her without consent, came to her room, invited her on dates, and also took her phone number from the hotel database and sent her messages offering sex.
After she complained to the management, the woman was transferred to another hotel. Another applicant from Iran, whom the UK Home Office accommodated in a hotel near Heathrow Airport, said that she was raped by a security guard. She reported the assault to hotel staff but, according to her, was afraid to give a statement to the police because of distrust in law enforcement and concerns about her asylum application.
Another woman from Uganda, who sought asylum due to the risk of persecution over her sexual orientation, said that a private immigration lawyer forced her to have sex as a way of paying for services. All three women whose stories were cited in the publication later received refugee status.
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Protection issues at accommodation sites
The parliamentary Home Affairs Committee, while examining accommodation conditions for asylum seekers, received testimony about insufficient protection mechanisms. The British Red Cross cited examples, including an attempt by a hotel employee to open a woman's room with a key card late at night while she was taking a bath. The organization also reported a widespread culture of sexual harassment at one of the hotels, including cases of sexual violence.
A representative of Women for Refugee Women said that the use of the issue of violence against women by far-right groups distorts the reality of violence and makes it harder for survivors to access support and justice. Ciara Bergman, head of Rape Crisis England & Wales, expressed concern about the lack of adequate safeguards to protect women seeking asylum from sexual violence, abuse and exploitation.
The Home Office said that the government had committed to halving violence against women and girls over a decade and that this should also apply to people seeking asylum. According to sources in the department, the published guidance on the accommodation and support of asylum seekers provides for assessing immediate risks, identifying necessary support and possible protective measures.
